The result is often positive and this season produced insane Barry Bonds-like numbers circa the early 2000s.

This spring, as a sophomore, Douglass hit .559, reached base on 70.5 percent of her plate appearances, drove in 28 runs and hit 14 home runs among her 33 hits, earning her Journal & Courier Small School Player of the Year.

"I didn't expect to do that well, but whenever I would have a bad game, the next day I was sure to look back and see what I did wrong and work on the tee and correct what I did," Douglass said.

What speak more to the threat she is at the plate are her 27 walks, many of those intentional. And yet even after being walked she was a threat, stealing 11 bases and scoring 36 runs.

"It is frustrating for sure, but I am glad that my teammates have my back and are able to move me," Douglass said of being pitched around.

In the field, the versatile Douglass began the season at shortstop for the Gophers but eventually landed in the outfield because of her strong arm and ability to throw from the fence to home plate on a line.

With two years of high school remaining, the college suitors only surely would increase. On Thursday, however, Douglass verbally committed to Purdue, saying she is enthused by the forward progress of coach Kim Schuette, who just completed her first season. That led to a decision to become a Boilermaker rather than go to Ohio State or Oklahoma, she said.

"I met a few of the players that will be going next year or that have verballed that will be going in the class with me, and everyone seems to be on the same page and I feel like we will be able to win a Big Ten championship or have a shot to make it to the College World Series," Douglass said.

Coach of the Year

A year ago, Southmont completed its season with a respectable 16-11 record.

Britney Carpenter assumed the role of Mounties coach just prior to the 2014 season knowing there was potential for many more victories. Southmont would've loved one more win this season, but there is no shame in a 23-9 season and a runner-up finish in the Class 2A state tournament.

For coaching the Mounties through the best postseason run in program history, Carpenter is the J&C Small School Coach of the Year.